Mumbai: Almost a week after the murder of senior crime reporter of Mid Day Jyotirmoy Dey, city police still continue to be groping in the dark and was caught napping while responding to queries related to the probe into the sensational killing.

"We do not have anything much to say as far as the investigation (into the murder) is concerned," Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Deven Bharti told reporters.

Talking on the reconstruction of sequence of events that led to the murder, Bharti said that they could get "little more clear picture" as to what had happened on that day. However, he did not elaborate on it.

"We are looking into various angles in the murder case, including personal or property angles, which might have led to his killing. We are also checking if the oil mafia had any role in the case," Bharti said.

Dey had been on a foreign trip for a fortnight from April 20 this year, during which, he had visited England, Ireland and Switzerland.

"We are also verifying if he also visited Germany. The trip appears to be personal and Dey had travelled alone. He did not share much details with his family members on the tour," Bharti said. "But prima facie, it appears to be pleasure trips."

Minutes before Dey's killing, the journalist had couriered visa documents and photocopies of his passport to Philippines tourism marketing office in Delhi. "Maybe, he planned to visit this place (Philippines)," he said.

Anwar and Mateen Iqbal Hatela, who had been detained and let off on Wednesday and believed to be associated with gangster Chhota Shakeel, were questioned today again.

"Mateen had earlier claimed that he killed Dey at the behest of Anwar, who gave the contract killing. Mateen had also claimed that one Raja D Salvi, who has a criminal background, was with him while executing the crime," Bharti claimed.

Mateen stated that Raja, who is from Pune, and he himself were on the two bikes along with two others, whom he did not know, while Anwar was in a car at the time of executing thecrime, Bharti said.

"But Mateen's claims did not match with the facts after our verification. Now, we wanted to know why Mateen stated all these things and wanted to mislead the investigations?"Bharti asked.

"Due the high level of secrecy maintained by Dey, we are facing some obstructions on the probe," he said.

Patil admits police clueless about Dey's killers

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil admitted that the police was still clueless about the perpetrators. Patil said that the perpetrators were smart enough not to have left any clue for the police to track them down.

"There are some criminals who are very smart. They are not leaving any clues. That is why investigation is becoming a little tough," he said responding to reporters's queries.

Patil, however, reposed faith in the abilities of Mumbai police and said the investigation in Dey's murder was progressing in the right direction.

"We have full faith in the ability of Mumbai police. These people (police) are on the right track and will surely catch the accused. They should be given sufficient time. We don't want to do anything that will discract or divert their focus," he said.

Dey, Editor (special investigations) with city tabloid Mid Day, was gunned down by four assailants last Saturday.

Sena seeks Patil’s resignation

Meanwhile, opposition Shiv Sena on Friday sought Home Minister R R Patil's resignation, following his statement that police were still clueless about the culprits.

"R R Patil is unable to handle the home department and therefore he should resign," party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here.

BJP said that since Patil had not resigned despite demands several times, the government should hand over the case to the CBI.

"Five days have passed but still the police is not able to get any clue... Once the Mumbai police were compared to the Scotland Yard, but now the question arises if their efficiency is declining," said BJP's Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.